Environmentally sensitive practices are becoming increasingly important for many businesses and restaurant franchising is no exception. The environment is a hot topic and the public is becoming more vocal about what they expect from retailers, manufacturers and service providers alike. Environmental issues which are foremost in the public’s mind, and which restaurant franchises must now take into account, include energy conservation, recycling and organic locally sourced food.
In Britain, a government sponsored “Green Achiever Scheme” has been created to enable companies to demonstrate their environmentally friendly credentials to suppliers, customers and other bodies interested in green business. In the United States, federal tax incentives and recycling programs have been set up to facilitate those companies wanting to improve their green credentials. The number of restaurant franchises opting into such schemes in both countries has been steadily growing, as business owners take note of the public’s demands when it comes to the environment.
Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their personal choices and, when it comes to opting where to spend their cash, are increasingly influenced by ethical business practices. Restaurant franchises have started to realize how important green credentials are to customers and investors alike. Environmentally friendly practices are gradually being introduced into every aspect of the restaurant franchising businesses. These practices range from installing solar panels, reducing carbon emissions and using non-toxic cleaning products to eliminating non-recyclable packaging and reducing the amount of all packaging used, filtering cooking oil for reuse and sourcing local, fair trade or organic produce.